Fancy Pants California Pinot Grigio 2013

Recommendation: “OK” Pinot Grigio that gets a recommended rating at this price point.

Winery/Producer: Fancy Pants Wines; St. Helena, California.

Grape Variety: Pinot Grigio.

Geographic Region, Appellation: California.

Vintage: 2013

Price: $6.99 (with a 30% 6-bottle discount)

Purchased From: Ralph’s Grocery Store; Agoura Hills, California.

Paired With: Sipping.

Tasting:

He said: While we were in California we wanted to try an inexpensive California Pinot Grigio and found a perfect example called Fancy Pants on sale at the local grocery store. Chilled before opening. Clear, almost colorless. Light tropical fruit aromas. Fresh (but heavy) very ripe tropical fruit taste that’s refreshing and had a long tart finish. Quite reminiscent of the “New World” Pinot Grigio we had in Australia. It lacked the strong crispness of Italian Pinot Grigio and had hints of sweetness in the strong ripe fruity taste. It’s clearly not a quality Pinot Grigio, but it’s an OK value at only $6.99 and a VERY refreshing wine for drinking on a hot summer afternoon. Not good enough to get our Quality wine at a Bargain price rating, but it’s a “garden variety” Pinot Grigio that gets a recommended rating at this price. The name is the worst part of this wine.

She said: What do I want in a wine on a hot summer day? A light refreshing wine! And, this has potential if you want one under $10. With a very pale yellow color it has virtually no aroma but a pleasant tropical fruit and floral taste. At first it’s sweet, it becomes tart in the finish. As the wine warms up the light body becomes heavier and the taste sweeter so this is one to keep chilled while you drink it. It is similar the new world wines we drank in New Zealand and Australia and nothing like the Italian Santa Margherita that is so popular. This is not a fine wine but at $6 it is a very drinkable.